Elephant topples safari jeep in Yala National Park

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stenews
Tue, Apr 1, 2025 5:33 PM

Elephant topples safari jeep in Yala National Park
Daily Mirror
April 1, 2025

See link
https://www.dailymirror.lk/amp/breaking-news/Elephant-topples-safari-jeep-in-Yala-National-Park/108-305708
for video.

An elephant was seen toppling a safari jeep in Yala National Park while
tourists were inside the vehicle.

Warden of the park, Manoj Vidyaratne, told the Daily Mirror that the
incident occurred two weeks ago on the Katagamuwa road within the park.

"The elephant that toppled the safari jeep was not one of the usual
elephants encountered by safari vehicles. It was a new, solitary elephant
that had emerged from the forest reserve. This elephant has a habit of
sneaking up to jeeps and using its trunk to search for food. It had done
this with several other safari jeeps before. No injuries were reported, but
the jeeps sustained damage," Vidyaratne said.

Meanwhile, Yala Safari Jeep Owners' Association President, Ajith Priyantha,
said that such encounters with wild elephants are common.

"Most wild elephants are not familiar with the fruits we eat, so they
usually do not consume the food given by people. Fortunately, these
elephants rarely exhibit violent behaviour," Priyantha added.

https://www.dailymirror.lk/amp/breaking-news/Elephant-topples-safari-jeep-in-Yala-National-Park/108-305708

Elephant topples safari jeep in Yala National Park Daily Mirror April 1, 2025 See link <https://www.dailymirror.lk/amp/breaking-news/Elephant-topples-safari-jeep-in-Yala-National-Park/108-305708> for video. An elephant was seen toppling a safari jeep in Yala National Park while tourists were inside the vehicle. Warden of the park, Manoj Vidyaratne, told the Daily Mirror that the incident occurred two weeks ago on the Katagamuwa road within the park. "The elephant that toppled the safari jeep was not one of the usual elephants encountered by safari vehicles. It was a new, solitary elephant that had emerged from the forest reserve. This elephant has a habit of sneaking up to jeeps and using its trunk to search for food. It had done this with several other safari jeeps before. No injuries were reported, but the jeeps sustained damage," Vidyaratne said. Meanwhile, Yala Safari Jeep Owners' Association President, Ajith Priyantha, said that such encounters with wild elephants are common. "Most wild elephants are not familiar with the fruits we eat, so they usually do not consume the food given by people. Fortunately, these elephants rarely exhibit violent behaviour," Priyantha added. https://www.dailymirror.lk/amp/breaking-news/Elephant-topples-safari-jeep-in-Yala-National-Park/108-305708